10 Test greats who averaged less than 50

Test cricket is the most traditional format of the game. It is also probably the hardest format to play for any cricketer. The longest form of the game puts many of the cricketers' attributes to test. Be it the skill or the fitness or even the perseverance, it requires all to conquer the most gruelling format of the sport.

Over the years, there have been many great batsmen who have excelled in this format. From the great Sir Don Bradman to the recent Chateshwar Pujara, a number of batsmen have averaged staggering numbers in the whites. While most of these stalwarts average more than 50, there are even many other greats who have made their own mark in the game while averaging below 50. Numbers don't really justify the skill of these players.

Let's take a look at 10 such batting greats who averaged less than 50 in Tests.

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#10 David Gower

David Gower is one of English Cricket's most esteemed possessions. He was a prolific run scorer and is still considered as one of the most stylish left-handed batsmen of all time. In fact, many players such as Sourav Ganguly, Matthew Hayden and others idolized Gower during their childhood. He even holds the record of playing most number of innings without scoring a duck in Test cricket. The southpaw played 119 consecutive innings without getting out on zero.

Gower played 117 Tests and 114 ODIs for England. In the longest format, he ended scoring 8231 runs at a high average of 44.25. The man from Leicestershire scored 18 centuries and 39 half centuries in this format with a personal best of 215. He is fourth on the list of all time highest Test run-scorers for England.

#9 Martin Crowe

Martin Crowe is considered as New Zealand's greatest batsman

The former New Zealand captain is regarded as the country's greatest batsman. He inspired many young New Zealanders to take up the sport. As a matter of fact, many cricketers from the country looked up to Crowe to mould their careers. He debuted for New Zealand at a very young age of 19 and eventually, went on to win many laurels.

Crowe was named a Wisden Cricketer of the year in 1985, and was credited as one of the "best young batsmen in the world". He even won the player of the tournament at the 1992 Cricket World Cup. For many years, he held the record of being New Zealand's highest run getter in both Tests and ODIs. He is currently 4th on the list.

The man from Auckland represented the Kiwis in 77 Tests and 143 ODIs. He ended his Test career by scoring 5444 runs at a healthy average of 45.36. His Test career was studded with 17 centuries and 18 half centuries with a top score of 299.

Sadly, Martin Crowe died on March 3rd, 2016 due to cancer.

#8 VVS Laxman

VVS Laxman is one of India's greatest batsmen

VVS Laxman is considered as one of India's greatest batsmen. He, along with Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sourav Ganguly, formed the batting core of the Indian team for many years. Technically a solid batsman, Laxman had the potential to tackle any bowling line up. As typical to the Asian batsmen, he was very strong through the on-side and punished anything on his pads.

The Hyderabadi had a particular liking for the Australians which is exemplified by his stellar record against them. His famous knock of 281* against the Kangaroos at the Eden Gardens in 2001 is one of the most famous knocks in Indian Cricket. VVS played many match winning and match saving knocks in his career that spanned 16 years.

He was credited with many awards out of which the Padma Shri, the Arjuna Award, and the Wisden award are some. Laxman played in 134 Tests and 86 ODIs for India. He ended his Test Career by scoring 8781 runs at a staggering average of 45.97. He has 17 centuries and 56 half centuries to his credit with a personal best of 281*. Laxman is currently 4th on the list of all time highest run scorers for India in Tests.

#7 Misbah-ul-Haq

Misbah Ul Haq is one of Pakistan's most successful batsmen in Test cricket

Misbah-Ul-Haq was one of Pakistan's most prolific run scorers in the longest format. He was a cool customer who sailed his team out of many precarious positions. Misbah, along with Younis Khan, formed the spine of Pakistan's batting for many years. He had the ability to absorb the pressure and play as per the situation.

Misbah holds two unique records. He, jointly with Sri Viv Richards, is the player to score the fastest Test century off 56 balls. Misbah also became the oldest player in 82 years to score a century when he made a hundred against England at the Lord's in 2016. He even holds the credit of being the most successful Test captain for Pakistan with 26 wins.

The former Pakistan captain ended his career after playing 75 Tests and 162 ODIs for Pakistan. In the Test format, he piled on 5222 runs at a solid average of 46.62. He went on to score 10 centuries and 39 half centuries in whites and is the 6th highest run getter for his country in Test matches.

#6 Kevin Pietersen

Kevin Pietersen is one of the most destructive batsmen who played for England

Kevin Pietersen was one of England's most impactful batsmen. Naturally an aggressive batsman, he decimated many bowling attacks and single-handedly won many matches for the Three Lions. The South Africa-born went on to break many records in his career including the one to score second most number of runs in the first 25 Test matches. In 2012, The Guardian called him England's greatest batsman.

KP, as he's famously called, played some memorable knocks in the famous 2005 Ashes as well. He faced the likes of Lee, McGrath and Warne with great skill and announced himself onto the international scene. KP was, however, most successful against India, against whom he scored 6 centuries.

In a total of 104 Tests, Pietersen scored 8181 runs at a sound average of 47.28. He has scored 23 centuries and 35 half centuries with a top score of 227. Currently 5th on the list of highest run scorers for England, the right hander hasn't been playing for England after a major controversy.

#5 Graeme Smith

Graeme Smith was South Africa's most successful captain

The tall left hander was one of South Africa's finest batsmen. Graeme Smith is the fastest South African to score 1000 Test runs. He even holds the merit of captaining the most number of Test matches in cricket history.

Smith was typically strong off his pads and dispatched anything straying down the leg side.The southpaw smashed double centuries in consecutive Test matches during South Africa's tour of England in 2003.

Smith went on to play 117 Tests and 197 ODIs in his career for the Proteas. He scored 9265 Test runs at an average of 48.25 consisting 27 centuries and 38 half centuries. His highest Test score of 277 came against England. He's currently the second highest Test run scorer for South Africa.

#4 Michael Clarke

Michael Clarke is one of the modern day batting greats

Michael Clarke made headlines in the very first Test match that he played. Debuting against India, in India, is certainly no joke for any batsman. But Clarke made it look incredibly easy by scoring a hundred.

Clarke was a gifted right hander who was particularly strong off the covers. He was even adept at playing spin. He went on to win many awards among which some are Sir Garfield Sobers trophy, Wisden Leading Cricketer of the year and Wisden Cricketer of the year. Clarke even captained Austalia in many games.

In a career spanning for 12 glorious years, Clarke represented Australia in 115 Tests and 245 ODIs. He amassed 8643 runs in Tests at an impressive average of 49.10 and is Australia's 4th highest run getter in Tests. Clarke scored as many as 28 centuries and 27 half centuries with a career best of 329* against India.

#3 Inzamam-ul-Haq

Inzamam Ul Haq is certainly one of the legends of Pakistan cricket

Inzamam-Ul-Haq is one of the biggest names in Pakistan cricket. The right hander was famous for his ability to play long innings while giving nothing away to the opposition. He rose to fame in the semi-final of the 1992 World Cup and remained one of the team's leading batsmen throughout the decade in both Test and ODIs.

Inzy, as he's popularly known, apart from playing absorbing innings, could even clobber the ball with his power strokes. Inzamam rose to the top of the ICC Test rankings in 1997 and remained in the top 20 for the rest of his career. His Test career highlights include 329 against New Zealand in Lahore in the 2001–02 season, which is the second highest Test score by a Pakistani and the twelfth highest overall. He also scored a century (184 runs) in his 100th Test, becoming only the fifth player to do so.

Inzy played 120 Test and 378 ODIs for Pakistan. He assimilated 8830 Test runs at an average of 49.60 and hit 25 centuries and 46 half centuries. He is the third highest run getter in Tests for Pakistan.

#2 Virender Sehwag

Virender Sehwag was one of the most destructive batsmen in the game

Virender Sehwag was one of the best, if not the best, opening batsmen in the history of cricket. The swashbuckling opener attacked the bowlers right from the word go and never gave any respite to them.

The Nawab of Najafgarh is the only Indian to have scored two triple centuries in Test cricket. Both his triple centuries came at a breathtaking pace and his 319 against South Africa is the fastest triple century ever made (300 off 278 balls).Sehwag became the only Indian to be honoured as the Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World for his performance in 2008, subsequently becoming the first player of any nationality to retain the award for 2009.

He was even conferred upon with the Arjuna award and the Padma Shree.

Sehwag represented India in 104 Tests and 251 ODIs. He scored 8586 runs in Tests with a staggering average of 49.34 and a strike rate of 82.23. The man from Haryana is currently the 5th highest runs scorer for India in Test matches.

#1 Mahela Jayawardene

Mahela Jayawardene is perhaps the finest right handed batsman from Sri Lanka

Mahela Jayawardene is one of the most elegant batsmen that the game has ever witnessed. He is one of the greatest batsmen of Sri Lanka and, along with Kumar Sangakkara, has carried the Lankan cricket for many years. He was the first player in Sri Lankan cricketing history to surpass the milestone of 10,000 Test runs.

Jayawardene's highest test score, 374 against South Africa is the highest test score by a right handed batsman in the history of Test cricket. He holds the record for the highest number of runs scored on a single ground in Tests. He scored 2921 runs at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo.

Apart from being a champion batsman, he was also a successful captain and led his team to many memorable victories. Mahela represented Sri Lanka in 149 Tests and 448 ODIs. He ended his career after scoring as many as 11,814 at a stupendous average of 49.84. He scored 34 brilliant centuries and 50 half centuries with a record highest score of 374.